Hayrack ladder



Fe b, s 1927.

F. F. MESS gAYRA cK LAbnEa Filed Oct. 17-, 1925 fi-etl mess Patented Feb 8, 192? EN ETE reare- FLREDI; MESS, OF FARMING'IEON, MIN-NESG'IAL HAYRAGK 'zannna.

' Application filed 0ctober'17, 1925; sriaino, 62,994;

My inventionrelates to a hay rack ladder whichis primarily adaptedto be attached to the end of the rackv to form a ladder for the rack, which is rigidlysupported so that the farmer may have no fear 'of the raclibeing jarred or dropped out-of'place while he is driving-along with the rack empty.

It is quite undesirable. to have a hay rack vide crossmembers having a series of holes which areiadapted to be attached to the, upright frame -member so as .to rigidly sup? port the cross members which form the steps of the ladder, and the. members forming the end of the-rackto assistin holding the hay in place.

My invention also includes a metal frame member which is of a peculiar shape, having a loop, at the top whichpermits' the frame to be, easily bent and fadjustedto provide a wider or narrower width so as to fit between the-stringers of the rack when the frame is attached thereto. The stringers are centrally disposed and spaced apart in the rack and are adapted to carry on the end the ladder frame which is rigidly bolted to the same. Different sized racks require different widths of frame and cross members and in my invention I have provided means for accomplishing this result.

These features together with other objects and detail of construction will be more fully and clearly set forth in the specification and claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a hay rack showing my ladder and adjustable end attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a front view of my ladder.

Figure 3 illustrates one of the cross members.

Figure 4: illustrates the frame with a different shape as it would appear when the cross members are disengaged from the same.

In the drawings my hay rack ladder A is made up of a metal frame B which is provided with a top compensating loop IOIand from which depend and extend side memberslll' The side'niembers 11 are spaeeatpart and are provided with inwardly eXtendingL ends 12' which are adapted to engage against the stringers 13 of the hay rack .CQ Qnlya por tion of thehay rac'k is: illustrated in the drawings. 7

p The compensating'zloop 10 providesmeans 'ss r ar FTCE; 1

whereby thesidesll can be spacedfarther V apart if it isfdesiredbr drawn togetherto make a narrower fraIne'B so as to permit theends 12 to properly fit" between 'the stringers 13. In'attaching my laddeipend A to the hay rack C it is desirable that'theends'12'be bolted securely to'tlie stringers 13. The framework B 'isma'de o-f metajl which is sufficiently strong to 5 support the end latter A 'rigidlyfin an upright position projecting from the ends of the -stringersi l and in a manner so that evenwhen the'hay V rack i empty the farmer can stand .onthe' hay rack and he supported against-"danger of falling by-engagingv'the frame B.

The 'loop 110 permits the farmer to r the lines of the-horse's :so'that'he canplace" them: on either, side and if he vvi'shesbaii attach them to the ,ana=theshoe1ders formed by the horizontally .ext'ei idingfip'or tions 14 which connect the 1001510 with the side members 11, provide a horizontally disposed shoulder on either side of the loop 10.

The ends 12 bend outwardly, as illustrated in Figure 2, so that in attaching the same to the stringers 13 the frame B is held under spring tension by the compression of the ends together between the stringers 13. This provides more rigidity to the frame and permits adjustment for compensating for different widths between the stringers to a limited degree. l/Vhen a greater width for the frame B is required between the members 11, the loop 10 can be suspended by bending the same apart and thus provide for the desired width for the frame B. 1

I provide cross arms 15, any number of which can be used, and which are attached to the frame B through the openings 16. In each cross arm 15 I provide a series of openings 16 extending near the end thereof so that the cross members can be adjusted readily to the width of the frame between the members 11. The adjustable means of my hay rack ladder end is quite important as it permits me to make and carry a stock of these ends in a knocked-down condition which can be shipped to the farmer and l which the'farmer can attach to a hay rack as he desires. This is. a preferable construc-.

tion, as the farmer usually desires to make up his own hay rack. Further, it is a desirable feature because it permits me to supply the farmer who already has a'hay rack but who desires to use my ladder end onhis hay racks, I

In Figure 4 I illustrate my frame B made with a round-spring like loop so thatit can I be readily adjusted to the desired width for g V and hayrack end is quit apparent, yetthe effectiveness in operation is such that I pro- 20 tached to practically any hay rack.

compensating for various sizes of hay racks as to the distance between the stringers I8. I 'Iheusimplicity of my adjustable ladder vide a hay'rack end which is very desirable, inexpensive to manufacture and easily at- In accordance with the patent statutes '1 have described the principles of operation in carrying out my invention and While I have illustrated a particular formation of my adjustable hayrack ladder end, I desire .a'ic'ompensating loop, side members adapted to bespaced apart by said compensating loop, attaching ends bent to extend from said side members'to permit said frame to be attached to the stringers of a hay rack, and

cross arms having a series of openings formed therein to permit the adjustment of the cross arms in relation to the width 0 the side members of said frame.

2. A hay rack ladder including, a meta :frame having side members extending approximately parallel, horizontally disposed portions adapted to form shoulders at the top end of said side members, a. loop between said horizontally disposed members adapted to compensate for adjusting the Width of the side members and adjustably securable cross arms adapted to form the cross arms for said ladder. i

3. A hay rack ladder including, a loop" frame formed from a s ngle piece of metal, and having side members spaced apart, se'-' curing ends formed on said frame extending approximately members an a compensating loop posi-' tioned between said side members in a man nor to permit the width of the frame to be adjusted.

4. A hay rack ladder comprising a frame made from a single piece of material,.ends bent outwardly at the base of the side members of said frame, said frame being approximately three sides of a rectangle with at right angles tosaid side 7 v side members extending approximately parallel When attached and, adapted to spring outwardly away from each other at the free ends of the frame when free from the hay rack, a loop formed inthe side of' said frame adapted to compensate for adjustment of the ends and a series of cross arms adapted to form adjustable ladder bars 7 adapted to be secured to said frame.

A .FBED F. V 

